Heart valve implant apparatus

A heart valve implant apparatus comprising:

• an annular valve extending along a valve axis between an inflow end of the valve and an outflow end of the valve, the valve comprising a lumen extending along the valve axis;
• and
• an expansion apparatus configured to engage the valve, the expansion apparatus comprising:
• a shaft extending coaxially with the valve axis;
• a base portion attached to the shaft;
• a first arm extending between a first end and a second end, the first end pivotably attached to the base portion;
• a second arm extending between a third end and a fourth end, the third end pivotably attached to the second end and the fourth end removably and pivotably attached to the valve, a central portion of the second arm pivotably attached to the shaft, wherein movement of the shaft relative to the base portion is configured to move the valve between a first position, in which the valve is in a radially-contracted position and an angle between the first arm and the second arm is greater than about 135 degrees, and a second position, in which the valve is in a radially-expanded position and the angle is less than about 135 degrees.

A heart valve implant apparatus comprising:

• an annular valve extending along a valve axis between an inflow end of the valve and an outflow end of the valve, the valve comprising a lumen extending along the valve axis;
• and
• an expansion apparatus configured to engage the valve, the expansion apparatus comprising:
• a shaft extending coaxially with the valve axis;
• an engagement apparatus comprising:
• a first base portion attached to the shaft and in a fixed position relative to the shaft;
• a second base portion attached to the shaft and spaced a distance apart from the first base portion, the second base portion configured to move relative to the shaft;
• an arm removably attached at one end to a first location of the valve and attached at an opposing end to the second base portion, wherein movement of the shaft is configured to change a distance between the second base portion and the first base portion such that the valve is configured to move between a first position, in which the valve is in a radially-contracted position, and a second position, in which the valve is in a radially-expanded position.

A heart valve implant apparatus comprising:

• an annular valve extending along a valve axis between an inflow end of the valve and an outflow end of the valve, the valve comprising:
• a first frame member comprising a first member portion comprising a first thickness and a second member portion comprising a second thickness that is less than the first thickness;
• a second frame member comprising a third member portion comprising a third thickness and a fourth member portion comprising a fourth thickness that is less than the third thickness, the first frame member attached to the second frame member at an attachment location in which the second member portion is in contact with and attached to the fourth member portion such that a combined thickness of the second thickness and the fourth thickness at the attachment location is less than or equal to each of the first thickness and the third thickness;
• and
• a locking member attached to the first frame member and configured to contact the second frame member when the valve is in a radially-expanded position to maintain the first frame member in a fixed position relative to the second frame member.